Ceferin urges Infantino to resign, declines to run for FIFA president

Aleksander Ceferin, the president of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), announced that he will not stand as a candidate to challenge FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the upcoming election. In the same statement, Ceferin warned that Infantino must either resign or confront a leadership challenge in March, citing the growing pressure on the FIFA executive.

The warning comes amid a crisis that has engulfed FIFA after Infantino’s ambitious but ultimately abandoned plan to open the governing body to private investors failed to gain traction. The proposal, which was intended to inject new capital and governance reforms, was met with skepticism from member associations and stakeholders, leading to calls for greater transparency and accountability. Ceferin’s remarks suggest that the UEFA president is prepared to support a motion of no confidence if Infantino does not step down voluntarily.

Ceferin’s statement signals a potential shift in the balance of power within international football governance. While he will not run for the FIFA presidency himself, his ultimatum underscores the urgency of addressing the governance issues that have plagued the organization. The outcome of the March leadership challenge will likely determine whether FIFA will pursue a new direction or continue under Infantino’s stewardship.